Apply for the Educator Innovator Award from the Give a Note Foundation

Each year, the Give a Note Foundation honors the most creative and effective school music programs with the Music Educator Innovator Award. Although the deadline for Fall 2018 entries ended on October 31, you can always start preparing for your Spring 2019 submission now!

Sean Smith, Board Chair/President of the Give a Note Foundation, encourages music instructors who may be a good match to apply. “The Music Educator Innovator Award identifies current music educators who are developing unique programs that incorporate technology, repertoire, instrumentation, funding and more to engage students and increase participation in school music programs.” Sound like you? Keep an eye out for more information on applying for the 2019 award in the spring.

Am I eligible for the award?

If you use innovative and sustainable strategies to attract students not typically enrolled in music education courses to enroll in your music class or program, you may be a good candidate for this award. The CMA Foundation, the foundation’s founding sponsor, will donate $4,000 grants to the winners’ schools, which they can use as they see fit to create lasting change in the school or district.

“Give A Note is proud to acknowledge public school music teachers who are connecting with their students in unique and innovative ways through the Music Education Innovator Award,” said Juliana Lee, Strategic Development Director of Give a Note Foundation. “We’re excited to share their experiences and inspiring stories in the coming weeks!”

In addition to giving the $4,000 grant to the award winners, Give a Note Foundation provides the necessary support to nurture, grow, and strengthen music education opportunities for students, schools, and communities throughout the country to all music educators.

What do you mean by innovative and sustainable?

In this context, innovative refers to taking an approach to music instruction that’s new for the school system in which the program is instituted. If the program takes lessons learned from a different school or school district and applies that idea in a new context, it’s considered innovative.

Sustainable, in regards to the award, means reflecting a high likelihood that you’ll be able to use the support offered to put in place a program that survives beyond the grant period, thus bringing lasting change to your school and students.

If you have questions about the award, contact Juliana Lee at info@giveanote.org.

About the Give a Note Foundation

GIVE A NOTE Foundation 501(c)(3) provides support to nurture, grow and strengthen music education opportunities – every student, every school, and every community.  Founded in 2011 with an initial investment from their partner 21st Century Fox and the TV show GLEE, Give A Note increases access to quality music education for more students, especially those in urban and rural communities where funding is scarce.

Our Music Education Innovator Award recognizes teachers who have developed creative, effective in-classroom programs and provides ongoing support to encourage lasting change within a school or district. Music Teacher Notes offers teachers an opportunity to apply for funds that will enable them to serve more students and significantly improve the music education experience in their classrooms. Thanks to our music and entertainment partners, the CMA Foundation, 21st Century Fox, Radio Disney and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), Give A Note has awarded grants in excess of $1.2 Million in support of music education.

How do I apply?

The Give a Note Foundation’s Fall submission window has already closed, but check their website often for information about Spring’s submission dates. Good luck!